- AI
- Molecular Imaging
- CT
- X-Ray
- Ultrasound
- MRI
- Facility Management
- Mammography
Can An Algorithm Help Diagnose Coronary Artery Disease?
Cardiac stress tests and exposure to radioactivity may not be needed for assessment of CAD.
Cardiac Phase Space Tomography Analysis (cPSTA) may provide comparable diagnostic utility to functional tests in assessing coronary artery disease (CAD) without cardiac stress tests, according to a study published in PLOS One.
Researchers from several states performed a prospective multicenter study to develop machine-learned algorithms to assess for CAD and to test the accuracy of the algorithms. Coronary artery disease was defined as one or more 70 percent or higher stenosis, or fractional flow reserve 0.80 or less. A total of 606 subjects participated in the study.
From the collective phase signal data, features were extracted and paired with the known angiographic results. A development set, consisting of signals from 512 subjects, was used for machine learning to determine an algorithm that correlated with significant CAD, the authors wrote. Verification testing of the algorithm was performed utilizing previously untested phase signals from 94 subjects.
The results showed the machine-learned algorithm on blind testing in the verification cohort:
• Sensitivity of 92 percent
• Specificity of 62 percent
• Negative predictive value of 96 percent
• Positive predictive value of 46 percent
The researchers concluded that the initial multicenter results suggested resting cPSTA may have comparable diagnostic utility to functional tests currently used to assess CAD without requiring cardiac stress (exercise or pharmacological) or exposure of the patient to radioactivity.
The Reading Room Podcast: Emerging Trends in the Radiology Workforce
February 11th 2022Richard Duszak, MD, and Mina Makary, MD, discuss a number of issues, ranging from demographic trends and NPRPs to physician burnout and medical student recruitment, that figure to impact the radiology workforce now and in the near future.
Can Short-Term Measures Provide Some Relief with the Radiologist Shortage?
April 4th 2024In an attempt to navigate the imbalance between rising imaging volume and a shortage of radiologists, researchers proposed a variety of measures that may provide additional resources, bolster productivity, and help mitigate burnout.
Female Representation in Radiology: Where Things Stand
March 25th 2024Women comprise nearly 80 percent of breast imaging departments and 45 percent of pediatric radiology departments at academic institutions, but burnout, the COVID-19 pandemic and discrimination have impeded further progress in radiology, according to a recently published literature review.
Current Perspectives on Radiology Workforce Issues and Potential Solutions
March 14th 2024Emphasizing the gravity of the ongoing workforce shortage in radiology, these authors recommend a change agenda focusing on expanded numbers of residency positions, reassessment of educational pathways, maintaining a strong presence in hospital settings and practice level initiatives to reduce administrative burden and achieve appropriate reimbursement beyond RVU measurements.
